New Orleans

"New Orleans" 24" x 36" Oil on Canvas - Painted 2013 - 2015 - $850

The trolley car - maybe it goes back to Mr. Rogers - but I like trolleys, trains, cars - actually I like machines in general. But I love riding around cities on a bus because the windows generally have a pretty good view. So to me this is cool and I definitely would love to visit New Orleans. I have heard that Jackson Square has a great street art scene and also I would love to taste of the local fare - which I've heard is pretty great. There is another artistic reason for me wanting to visit New Orleans.

Many years ago while walking down Newbury Street in Boston I happened upon a painter. I was looking at the fantastic exhibits lined up at the many fancy art galleries that dot this venerable street. I stopped and looked up; it was giant oil paintings, three of them perfectly lit in three giant street level store front windows.

They were very modern for me - I could tell it was a living artist somehow - producing presently.

It was a painting of a building. The perspectives were warped and exaggerated for effect and the colors were enhanced and improvised as well. I saw the detail of the iron wrought decorative beams of New Orleans architecture, and I was smitten, moved.

I went in to inquire about the artist, his name is George Michalopoulos. He is still producing and upon checking his site to research this writing I have discovered that he has advanced greatly since I first saw his work all those twenty or so years ago on the magical section of Boston, MA called Newbury Street.

I have appreciated and respected his work since then. I followed his career loosely and admired his works at various places in Boston until I left about 4 years ago. I am grateful for the inspiration that I got from him. I hope that my work also has advanced over those years as well but I don't compare to Mr. Michalopoulos.

So this trolley car is definitely a nod to the aforementioned, among many other things. It is a specifically urban and diverse scene. It speaks of motion as well as stillness. It touches upon machinery, transportation, travel.